Kerala minister resigns to make way for party leader

Public Works Minister Mons Joseph resigned from his post on Sunday, making way for Kerela Congress(Joseph) chairman P.J. Joseph to take over again after he was cleared of sexual harassment charges by a court.

Public Works Minister Mons Joseph resigned from his post on Sunday, making way for Kerela Congress(Joseph) chairman P.J. Joseph to take over again after he was cleared of sexual harassment charges by a court.

Mons Joseph submitted his resignation to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. He had declared that he would quit to pave the way for the return of Joseph to the cabinet.

Joseph had to quit nearly three years ago after he was accused of molesting a woman on board an aircraft. However, he was given a clean chit by a court in Chennai.

Mons Joseph, 45, took over from party colleague T.U. Kuruvilla two years ago after the latter quit as minister following allegations of a land deal scam.

"This was one post that I never ever expected to get. And when I got this opportunity, I am happy that I did my duty to the best of my abilities. In a democracy a political party is supreme and as per the wish of my party I am making way for my chairman, which I had announced the day I became a minister," said Mons Joseph.